The Time Hopper

Failed Jailbreak

I raced down the hallway, in near pitch black, to where I had heard Kat's voice. I could hear Felix up above, banging on the doorway, yelling at me to open the door and then demanding that someone get him some spare keys. Apparently, he couldn't bust his way through that door. Good, it bought me more time. Also meant it was definitely impossible for me to get back out, but I would figure it out. 

"Sadie, what's going on? Why weren't you thrown down here?" Kat demanded, though from the note of accusation it was clear that she already knew. I swallowed and found my way to her door, trying to press my face to the bars and see her. It was almost pitch black in there, the only light coming from a flickering lantern that barely filtered through. There was a small figure, huddled on the floor, dark chains draping around her and pale hay on the floor. 

"Because what he said was true. I am Obsivian's granddaughter, but I only found out like a couple of weeks ago. It doesn't mean anything to me, I swear. It just means that I can get away with a lot more, which is how I'm going to get you out of here!" I said, rattling at the door. There were many keys on the loop I had stolen, and I started going through them to try and unlock it. 

"I thought you were trying to set us all up. How do I know that you're not?" She asked, not moving. 

"You're really going to have to trust me on this one, because I have no proof other than the fact that I got everyone else out and tried my best to get us away too. I'm going to get you out of here and save you, I promise." I vowed to her, finally finding a key that would fit. She didn't answer, but I unlocked the door anyway and stepped inside. The yelling from upstairs was getting more frantic, and before I could step in, someone called out from behind me. 

"Sadie? Sadie, is that you?" A weak, frightened voice came from behind me, horribly familiar. I felt myself going numb, drawn towards the cell as though a string had been tied around my heart. Before I could go over, I turned and tossed the keys to Cat, who caught them and immediately set about unlocking herself. 

"Sadie, where are you going? Help me!" She snapped, but I could barely hear her. Instead, I walked to the end of the hallway, peeking in the last cell. Two shapes huddled close to the door, trying to stand up. I couldn't quite see. I could hear the door at the top of the stairs being unlocked, but I ignored it as I grabbed the lantern from the ceiling and brought it up to the window in the door.

It was my parents. Battered and bruised and skinny, clutching to each other, and dark circles under their eyes. It had been hundreds of years for them, but only weeks for me, and I had to remind myself of that. Because they looked so much worse for wear. 

"Mum? Dad?" I whispered, seeing their haunted eyes reflected in the light of the lantern. They both looked terrified. 

"Sadie, you have to run!" My mum commanded me, shaking her head. Her voice, the sweet sound that used to lull me to sleep, was now a hoarse, painful whisper. She was crying, dirt shedding from her cheeks in dirty tracks. 

"No, no, I'm not leaving you!" I insisted, going back to where Cat had freed herself and snatching the keys. 

"What are you doing?" She asked, struggling to stand up and follow me. 

"My parents! I have to get them out." I explained, running for the cell door as the door at the top of the dungeon was thrown open and Felix began to barrel down after us. 

"Sadie, don't risk your life for us!" My father yelled, his voice full of terror and rough. I shook my head, desperately shoving keys into the lock and trying not to cry. 

"I don't know when I'll see you again!" I yelled out, desperate to get them out. Felix was rushing at me, yelling for the mages following him to grab Cat who had barely made it out of her cell. In a panic, I dropped the lantern, shattering the bulb as I flung the keys through the bars in a last ditch attempt to free them.